Mouth construction for ventriloquial figure

ABSTRACT

An improved mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure comprises a movable jaw assembly operatively connected to the head of the figure and including a rigidly cast lower jaw member pivotally connected within the head and a pliable lip member formed to fit upon and cover the upper surface of the lower jaw member. The lip member is cast from a rubberlike synthetic polymer, such as silicone rubber, that is first cured in an associated mold and then secured firmly upon the surface of the cast lower jaw member while curing using specially fabricated dual T-shaped bar fasteners embedded between the separate members to mechanically lock them together during the casting process. The resultant mouth construction provides a quite impact between the movable jaw assembly and the upper lip surface of the stationary upper jaw portion of the head and makes the ventriloquial figure more life-like in its operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices, commonly referred to as dummies, used by ventriloquists in performance of their acts, and more particularly to an improved mouth construction for a ventriloquist dummy having a more life-like quality so that reduced noise emanates therefrom during manipulation by the ventriloquist.

In the performance of acts of ventriloquism, the skilled ventriloquist manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from the ventriloquist's accompanying puppet device, referred to technically as a ventriloquial figure and commonly called a dummy. Over the years, ventriloquists have used a variety of different types of dummies, many of them having human-like features often exaggerated for visual effect. Ventriloquist dummies have appeared in a wide assortment of physical designs and have been made in a range of materials from soft and resilient to hard and rigid. Classic dummies having humanoid features were traditionally made more rigid from papier-mâché or wood to preserve their integrity and form. In modern times, alternative rigidly-forming materials, such as reinforced resins, neoprene and urethanes, are often employed to construct the head and body elements of the dummy for long term usage.

Common to all ventriloquial figures is a form of moving mouth made to be manipulated by the ventriloquist during his or her act. Essential to the ventriloquist's act is the creation of the illusion that the dummy is talking when the sound of the voice emanating from the ventriloquist's mouth is perceived by the audience as if it is coming from the moving mouth of the dummy. This illusion is made most convincing by the ability of the skilled ventriloquist to voice intelligible sounds without moving his or her mouth while at the same time moving the dummy's mouth in synchrony with the voiced sounds. While the synchronous movement of the dummy's mouth is important to the desired illusion, care must be exercised by the ventriloquist in doing so to avoid making any unnatural sounds or noises in manipulation of the dummy's mouth. Such unnatural sounds or noises are most often generated from the impact of moving parts of the dummy, particularly between those of the dummy's mouth, with the constant tapping produced by such impact, especially when made repeatedly, being highly distracting to the audience during a performance and counterproductive to the illusion of a natural talking dummy.

Prior art puppetry devices and existing techniques for the construction of ventriloquial figures have not adequately addressed this problem of unnatural noises emanating from the ventriloquist's dummy, particularly from the moving mouth of the dummy during a performance. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved ventriloquial figure formed and constructed so as to reduce and eliminate those unnatural sounds and noises made during manipulation of the figure and its mouth by the performing ventriloquist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general purpose and object of the present invention to provide an improved ventriloquial dummy figure capable of effective operation in the performance of a ventriloquism act without adversely affecting the illusion upon the audience that the dummy figure is talking.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved ventriloquial figure having a more life-like quality in its movement especially reducing unnatural sounds and noises in its operational use during performances.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure that is easy to manipulate by the ventriloquist performer and able to increase the visual capture of the audience without distraction by unnatural sounds or noises.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ventriloquial figure that is durable in its construction and reliable in its performance.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ventriloquial figure that is relatively simple and inexpensive to fabricate.

Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by an improved mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure comprising a movable jaw assembly operatively connected to the head of the figure and including a rigidly cast lower jaw member pivotally connected to the head and a soft, pliable lip member formed to fit upon and cover the upper surface of the lower jaw member. The lip member is cast from a rubberlike synthetic polymer, as silicone rubber, that is first cured in an associated mold and then secured firmly upon the surface of the cast lower jaw member while curing using a specially fabricated dual T-shaped bar fastener embedded between the separate members to mechanically lock them together during the casting process. The resultant mouth construction provides a quite impact between the movable jaw assembly and the upper lip surface of the stationary upper jaw portion of the head and makes the ventriloquial figure more life-like in its operation.

For a better understanding of these and other aspects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like //reference numerals and character designate like parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, references in the detailed description set forth below shall be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a ventriloquial figure (predominately in phantom) incorporating an improved mouth construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mouth construction of the present invention removed from the head of the ventriloquial figure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a and 3 b are perspective views of the present mouth construction of FIG. 2 shown in separate stages of its formation and assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fully assembled mouth construction made in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the assembled mouth construction of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5-5 therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the best presently contemplated mode of its production and practice. This description is further made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention but should not be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being best determined by reference to appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a ventriloquial figure or dummy P is shown of the type having a slotted jaw opening provided in the front of the head H and further incorporating a movable mouth construction 10 made in accordance with the present invention and operatively fitted within the slotted jaw opening. Pivotally disposed within the head of the ventriloquial figure P to allow conventional manipulation and articulation by a ventriloquist performer using mechanical means, the mouth construction 10 comprises a lower jaw member 14 rigid in form that is pivotably connected within the head, as described below, and a pliable lip member 12 resilient in its form that is attached atop the jaw member in accordance with the present invention. As is typical in the construction of conventional ventriloquial dummies, the head of the present ventriloquial figure P is relatively hard and rigid in its form and may be fabricated from a cast urethane elastomer material or carved from wood with the upper jaw and mouth and any associated lip being integrally formed and fixed in it position above the slotted jaw opening in the head H.

Referring now to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the lower jaw member 14 is sized and shaped to fit the slotted jaw opening in the head H of the ventriloquial figure P and is made in a rigid form from a cast urethane elastomer material cured in an associated mold designed to configure the jaw member and provide it with features including a rear block section 14 a, a forward chin section 14 c and a mouth rim 14 b formed atop the chin section. The rear block section 14 a of the lower jaw member is intended to set back into the head H of the ventriloquial figure P and is provided with an elongated rod 15 set transversely through the rear section in the process of its casting, the length of the rod being made sufficient to project from each side of the block section to provide a pivotal axis for mounting the lower jaw member rearward within the head H and providing the present mouth construction 10 with a range of articulated movement within the slotted jaw opening of the ventriloquial figure. The chin section 14 c of the lower jaw member 14 is intended to set forward in the slotted jaw opening of the head H and adapted to move up and down therethrough about the pivotal axis of the rod 15 operatively mounted rearward within the head. The mouth rim 14 b is situated and formed upon the cast lower jaw member 14 above the chin section 14 c typically in a relatively flat, U-shaped configuration around a group of teeth-like elements, as seen in FIG. 2. It should therefore be noted and understood that in the curing of the cast lower jaw member 14, the upper surface of the mouth rim 14 b constitutes the top surface level of the jaw member evident about the forward portion thereof.

Lip member 12 is a soft and flexible member that is cast from a rubberlike synthetic polymer, preferably a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber of the two-component type, which is first cured and then secured firmly upon the surface of the lower jaw member 14, particularly the mouth rim 14 b thereof, as the lower jaw member is cast. A commercially available two-component RTV silicone rubber mixable in putty form is used to cast the lip member 12 with the silicon putty being pressed into an associated mold that has been powdered and prepped for the casting. The lip member 12 is cast in a substantially U-shaped configuration, conforming to that of the mouth rim 14 b, further having a rounded upper surface to simulate the shape of a human lip and providing a relatively flat lower surface to promote more contiguous and abutting surface contact with the top of the mouth rim for their joint attachment.

In accordance with the present invention, the soft lip member 12 is secured and held upon the mouth rim 14 b of the lower jaw member 14 using specially fabricated dual T-shaped bar fasteners 16 embedded in anchored connections between the separate members to mechanically lock them together during the casting process. The bar fasteners 16 are rigid in form and made from a cast urethane elastomer material, similar to that of the lower jaw member 14. The bar fasteners 16, preferably used in a pair to resist torquing and prevent twisting movement of the lip member 12 when secured upon the mouth rim 14 b, are each formed in an integral structure having a double T-shaped profile that includes a pair of end flanges 16 c, 16 d, and intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b transversely disposed and spaced apart along a central post or shank 16 e. Each bar fastener 16 is preferably rectilinear in shape with each of its comprised members 16 a-16 e having substantially perpendicular surface edges and the central shank 16 e being substantially perpendicular in disposition to each of the end flanges 16 c, 16 d and the intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b. Both the end flanges 16 c, 16 d and intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b similarly extend laterally on either side of the central shank 16 e to respective widths, the widths of the end flanges being relatively smaller in dimension than those of the intermediate cross pieces. As discussed further below, the smaller, narrower widths of the end flanges 16 c, 16 d serve to better anchor the bar fastener 16 in place within the respective lip member 12 and mouth rim 14 b, while the larger, broader widths of the intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b serve to better clamp the contiguous surfaces of the lip member and mouth rim when joined and attached together.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b in conjunction with FIG. 2, the process for making the present mouth construction 10 requires separate master molds (not shown) conventionally produced for both the lower jaw member 14 and the lip member 12. For the lower jaw member 14, the master mold is made in its cavity to define all sections and surface features of the lower jaw member including the chin section 14c and rear block section 14 a and further accommodate placement of the transverse rod 15 therethrough. The top of the master mold cavity for the lower jaw member 14 also establishes the surface of the mouth rim 14 b atop the forward portion of the cast jaw member and allows access to the mouth rim while casting the jaw member. Similarly, the master mold for the lip member 12 is made in its cavity to define the substantially U-shaped configuration and rounded upper surface of the lip member with the top of the mold cavity establishing the flat lower surface of the cast lip member intended for contiguous attachment upon the mouth rim 14 b of the lower jaw member 14.

In the process for making the present mouth construction 10, the mold for the lip member 12 is initially powdered and prepped for casting and thereafter, the two-component RTV silicone material is mixed and pressed fully into the mold cavity, and the cast lip member allowed to cure. While the lip member 12 is curing in the mold, bar fasteners 16 are inserted into the underside of the cast lip member, preferably at symmetrical locations on opposite sides of its U-shaped configuration. Each bar fastener 16 is inserted longitudinally into the cast lip member 12 and set perpendicularly to the lower surface thereof at a depth of about one-half of the length of the bar fastener or midway along the length of the shank 16 e, with one end flange 16 c and intermediate cross piece 16 a being below the lower surface of the lip member and the opposite end flange 16 d and intermediate cross piece 16 b exposed and projecting above. Maintained in this position within the cast lip member 16 as it cures, the bar fastener 16 will become firmly attached to the lip member when finally cured with the end flange 16 c serving to anchor the bar fastener and the intermediate cross piece 16 a set in place just inside of the lower surface of the lip member. Thereafter, the fully formed lip member 12 with the bar fastener 16 attached thereto is de-molded and together placed upon the mold of the cast lower jaw member 14, the underside or lower surface of the lip member with exposed end flange 16 d and intermediate cross piece 16 b being set directly upon and into the area of the mouth rim 14 b while the lower jaw member is cast. With the lip member 12 and projecting portion of the bar fastener 16 in place upon the mold of the lower jaw member 14 as described, the lower jaw member is cast with the urethane material and allowed to cure completely. While the cast lower jaw member 14 proceeds to cure, the cast urethane material inside the mold will surround the projecting portion of the bar fastener 16 along shank 16 e, namely, the end flange 16 d and intermediate cross piece 16 b, and bond integrally to the bar fastener thereby mechanically locking the lip member 12 to the lower jaw member with the underside of the lip member being held contiguously upon the mouth rim 14 b thereof. Upon completion of the curing of the lower jaw member 14 with the lip member 12 and bar fastener 16 inserted therein, the resultant product is de-molded to provide the present mouth construction 10 featuring a soft lip affixed intimately to a working jaw for operatively mounting within the head H of the ventriloquial figure P.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the resultant mouth construction 10 is assembled and held together in an integral fashion by the specially fabricated bar fasteners 16 characterized by their double T-shaped profile that is embedded between the separately cast soft lip member 12 and the rigidly cast jaw member 14. The outer flanges 16 c, 16 d at opposite ends of the bar fastener 16 are deeply embedded in the respective bodies of the lip member 12 and lower jaw member 14 serving to anchor the bar fastener in position between the respective bodies and acting to draw them together. Between the outer end flanges 16 c, 16 d along the central shank 16 e of the bar fastener 16, the intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b spread wider and closer to the adjoining surfaces of the lip member 12 and the mouth rim 14 b of lower jaw member 14 serving to clamp those surfaces together and holding them in contiguous contact despite articulation of the mouth construction 10 within the head H of the ventriloquial figure P.

Therefore, it is apparent that the described invention provides an improved ventriloquial figure construction capable of effective operation in the performance of a ventriloquism act without adversely affecting the illusion upon the audience that the dummy figure is talking. The present invention more particularly provides an improved mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure having a more life-like quality in its movement especially reducing unnatural sounds and noises in its operational use during performances. In addition, the described invention provides a mouth construction for a dummy figure that is easy to manipulate by the ventriloquist performer and able to increase the visual capture of the audience without distraction by unnatural sounds or noises. Furthermore, the present invention provides a mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure that is durable in its assembly and reliable in its performance, and in its inventive construction, one that is relatively simple and inexpensive to fabricate.

Obviously, other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will readily come to those or ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and drawings. Alternate embodiments of different shapes and sizes, as well as substitution of known materials or those materials that may be developed at a future time to perform the same function as the present described embodiment are therefore considered to be part of the present invention. For example, the rectilinear form of the bar fastener 16 and its elements 16 a-16 e may rather be rounded and cylindrical in their form while still maintaining its dual T-shaped profile. For instance, the end flanges 16 c, 16 d and intermediate cross pieces 16 a, 16 b may rather be rounded pads of corresponding diameters with the central shank 16 e connecting them being cylindrical in form. Accordingly, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described, but rather is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as expressed in the appended claims. 

1. A mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure of the type having a slotted jaw opening in the head thereof, comprising: a jaw member cast in rigid form and pivotally connected to the head within the jaw opening; a lip member cast in pliable form and conforming with the top of said jaw member, said lip member being attached upon the top of said jaw member during casting thereof; and bar fastener means extended between said lip member and said jaw member, said bar fastener means being embedded and secured within each of said lip and jaw members while casting to mechanically lock said members together.
 2. A ventriloquial mouth construction according to claim 1, wherein said bar fastener means comprises: a plurality of bar fastener members rigid in form having a double T-shaped profile along the length thereof with opposite ends of said bar fastener members being set in anchored connection within the respective lip member and jaw member during casting.
 3. A ventriloquial mouth construction according to claim 2, wherein said bar fastener members each comprise: a central shank; a pair of flanges disposed at opposite ends of the central shank, each of the flanges extending transversely in width on either side of the shank; and a pair of cross pieces disposed and spaced apart along the central shank intermediate to the end flanges, each of the cross pieces extending transversely on either side of the shank in width beyond the flanges.
 4. A ventriloquial mouth construction according to claim 3, wherein said bar fastener members are integrally formed and made having substantially rectilinear surfaces.
 5. A ventriloquial mouth construction according to claim 3, wherein: said jaw member is cast from a urethane elastomer material and formed having a substantially flat U-shaped upper rim surface; and said lip member is cast from a silicone rubber material in a substantially U-shaped form conforming to the upper rim surface of said jaw member, said lip member further having a rounded upper surface to simulate the shape of a human lip and a substantially flat lower surface to adjoin contiguously with the upper rim surface of said jaw member.
 6. A ventriloquial mouth construction according to claim 5, wherein said bar fasteners are set within said lip member and said jaw member so that respective cross pieces of said bar fasteners are embedded in each member substantially adjacent and parallel to the lower surface of said lip member and the upper rim surface of said jaw member.
 7. A method of constructing a mouth assembly for a ventriloquial figure, comprising the steps of: casting a lip member in a pliable form from a curable silicone rubber material, the form of the lip member having a U-shaped configuration with a lip-like upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface; while the cast lip member is curing, inserting a bar fastener having a double T-shaped profile substantially one-half of its length into the lower surface of the lip member, the bar fastener being embedded perpendicularly to the lower surface of the lip member when cured with the remaining one-half of the length of the bar fastener projecting therefrom; casting a jaw member in a rigid form from a curable urethane elastomer material, the form of the jaw member having a U-shaped upper rim; and while casting the jaw member, positioning the cured lip member together with the partially embedded bar fastener upon the U-shaped upper rim of the jaw member so that the projecting length of the bar fastener is inserted within the upper rim of the jaw member and embedded when cured.
 8. The method of constructing a ventriloquial mouth assembly according to claim 7, wherein the bar fastener is formed comprising: a central shank; a pair of flanges disposed at opposite ends of the central shank, each of the flanges extending transversely in width on either side of the shank; and a pair of cross pieces disposed and spaced apart along the central shank intermediate to the end flanges, each of the cross pieces extending transversely on either side of the shank in width beyond the flanges.
 9. The method of constructing a ventriloquial mouth assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bar fastener inserted into the cast lip member while curing is positioned so that one of said end flanges is embedded deeply into the lip member and the cross piece immediately adjacent to the end flange is embedded just inside of the lower surface of the lip member.
 10. The method of constructing a ventriloquial mouth assembly according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of bar fasteners are inserted into the cast lip member while curing in pairs at corresponding locations on opposite sides of the U-shaped configuration of the lip member.
 11. In a ventriloquial figure of the type having a slotted jaw opening in the head thereof, the improvement comprising: a mouth construction pivotally mounted and adapted for manipulation within the slotted jaw opening, the improved mouth construction being cast having a soft lip assembled and mechanically locked upon a rigid jaw member to provide quite operation of the mouth construction during manipulation.
 12. The improved mouth construction of claim 11, further comprising: said rigid jaw member cast in form and pivotally connected to the head within the jaw opening; a lip member cast in pliable form and conforming with the top of said jaw member, said lip member being attached upon the top of said jaw member during casting thereof; and bar fastener means extended between said lip member and said jaw member, said bar fastener means being embedded and secured within each of said lip and jaw members while casting to mechanically lock said members together.
 13. The improved mouth construction of claim 12, wherein said bar fastener means comprises: a plurality of bar fastener members rigid in form having a double T-shaped profile along the length thereof with opposite ends of said bar fastener members being set in anchored connection within the respective lip member and jaw member during casting.
 14. The improved mouth construction of claim 13, wherein said bar fastener members each comprise: a central shank; a pair of flanges disposed at opposite ends of the central shank, each of the flanges extending transversely in width on either side of the shank; and a pair of cross pieces disposed and spaced apart along the central shank intermediate to the end flanges, each of the cross pieces extending transversely on either side of the shank in width beyond the flanges.
 15. The improved mouth construction of claim 14, wherein: said jaw member is cast from a urethane elastomer material and formed having a substantially flat U-shaped upper rim surface; and said lip member is cast from a silicone rubber material in a substantially U-shaped form conforming to the upper rim surface of said jaw member, said lip member further having a rounded upper surface to simulate the shape of a human lip and a substantially flat lower surface to adjoin contiguously with the upper rim surface of said jaw member.
 16. The improved mouth construction of claim 15, wherein said bar fasteners are set within said lip member and said jaw member so that respective cross pieces of said bar fasteners are embedded in each member substantially adjacent and parallel to the lower surface of said lip member and the upper rim surface of said jaw member.
 17. The improved mouth construction of claim 13, wherein said bar fastener members are integrally formed and made having substantially rectilinear surfaces. 